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If you are experiencing family violence
Are you worried about how your partner or a family member is treating you or you don’t feel safe around them?
Family violence is when your partner, ex, carer, family member or someone you’re in a family-like relationship with uses threatening, controlling and violent behaviour that makes you scared for your own – or someone else’s – safety and wellbeing.
Family violence doesn’t always involve physical abuse. People use a wide range of abusive behaviours to maintain power and control in relationships.
No matter what form it takes, family violence is never OK.
Family violence is always a choice made by the abuser. It is not your fault.
It is never okay for someone to:
- control where you go or who you speak to
- physically attack or hurt you
- threaten you or your loved ones, including a pet
- limit your access to necessities, including face masks or healthcare
- stalk or monitor you, including online
- force you to do sexual things you don’t want to do
- putting you down, humiliating you or attacking your self-esteem
- control your finances and financial decisions
- threaten to take away custody of your children or your visa status
- stop you from practising religious, spiritual or cultural beliefs and rituals
- make you feel scared to say ‘no’.
What you can do
If you – or someone you know – is in immediate danger, call the police on triple zero (000).
There are also services that have family violence experts who can listen to you, help you explore your options and help you think about what you want to do next.
For information about the type of support and services available, visit the Are you safe at home? website.
FIND A
FAMILY VIOLENCE
SERVICE
Search our directory of specialist family violence services in Victoria.
“Being in an abusive relationship made me realise that, just because you fall in love with someone, it doesn’t mean that they are right for you.”